Kochi (or Cochin, as it was known till a few years back) is one of many second tier Metro in India, which is growing at a fast and furious pace.
Kochi has a long and colourful history, which dates back to 1100 AD, when the state of Cochin was formed. In the year 1341 AD, the neighbouring port of Cranganore was washed away in a massive flood, and Kochi became the port which handled all the spice trade. Trade and movement of ships made Kochi "a great melting pot" where people of different nationalities met and interacted. Port at Kochi used to receive ships from Portugal, Holland, England from the western hemisphere and China, Malay, Java from the eastern.
It is told that the first Chinese Fishing Net (like the one shown above) was set up at Kochi in the early 1500's. Chinese traveller Zheng He is given the credit for introducing this method of fishing at Cochin.
Chinese Fishing Net is a deceptively simple, shore based fishing system, designed to deliver the maximum result with minimum of efforts.
Huge mechanical contrivances, made of wood, hold out horizontal nets of 20 m or more across. Each structure is around 10 m high, and is basically a cantilever, with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen.
The system is very well balanced and the weight of a man walking along the main beam is sufficient to cause the net to descend into the sea. The net is left submerged for a short time, before it is raised by pulling on ropes.At the entrance of Kochi harbour, these fishing nets are a must see now for all visitors to Cochin.Cochin had been ruled by the local Kings, Dutch, Portugese and Ensglish. Vasco Da Gama died at Cochin, and was buried here.Keep watching the photostream for more images and history of Cochin.
Contributed by:Kanad Sanyal
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